Plait heading



May 24, 1932. E, J, MARTENS 1,860,110

PLAIT HEADING Filed Dec. 2, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 24, 41932. E J, MARTENS 1,860,110 y PLAIT HEADING Filed Deo. 2, 1951 z sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 24, 1932` UNITED STATES ERNEST J. MARTENS, F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI PLAIT vHEADING Application led December 2, 1931.

lThis invention relates to the provision of certain new and useful means for enabhng a curtain to be rapidly and accurately plaited. The invention has for its general ob]ec.t the provision of novel means to be .secured along the top of the curtain at the inner. or rear side thereof, and which may be manipulated to enable plaits to be readily formed 1n the curtain and spaced at equi-distant intervalsforming plaits at intervals throughout the.

width of the curtain,

In other form of the invention, I'provide a construction for use on curtains of light material, such, for example, as lace orl net curtains, and in this form of the invention the plaiting Iis effected by hand, but the invention enabling the operator to readily produce various characters of plaiting, that is, single, double, triple, etc., and to locate the plaits at equi-distant intervals throughout the width of the curtain.

Vitli the above object in view, my invention consists, broadly, in providing a plaitV heading, comprising a lstrip of flexible material which is adapted to be secured on the inner side of the curtain at its upper end to extend from side to side thereof, and which strip is provided at suitable intervals with verticallydisposed, equally-spaced stifl'ening' ribs, whereby, upon being brought together, the iexible material will cause the parts of the 5 curtain between the ribs to be doubled back upon themselves to form plaits; and I cornbine with the structure suitable means to be engaged by a gathering hook to hold the sti'- ening ribs together and thus maintain the plaits in the curtain.

Serial No. 578,605.

In one form of the invention, the stifening ribs are provided with unattached portions which forni loops and the curtain is plaited by the operator bringing together by hand two, three, or more of these loops, to form a single, double or tr1ple plait, as the case may be, and then securing the loops, and consequently the stiffening ribs, together by means of a gathering hook passed through theappropriate number of loops.

In another form of the invention, I secure tape to the strip of material to extend from side to side of the curtain, which is secured at opposite side edges through the strip of material at the points of intersection of the tape with the stifl'ening ribs, the stiifening ribs have an unattached portion extending over the tape, and. in the pocket formed by the tape I insert a pull-tape and secure one end thereof to one end of the strip of material, so that by drawing the pull-tape the stii'ening ribs, which in this form are arranged in equally spaced groups, will be brought together to form the plaits as before, and the portions of the tape between the stiffening ribs will be doubled back upon itself to form loops, which loops are then secured together by a gathering hook, to maintain the plaits in the curtain.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a front view, and Figure 2 a rear View, showing the curtain plaited according to one form of the invention;

Figure 3 is a View on an enlarged scale showing the inner side of a portion of my improved plait heading in a flat condition, certain parts being broken away to better illustrate the construction;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the appearance of the plait heading 90 after the pull-tape has been drawn to bring i the stiffening ribs to ether;

Figure 5 1s a section on the line 5 5 of Figure 3;

l Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view on a reduced scale, showing the manner of spacing the vstiffening ribs on the strip forming the foundation, or base, of the plait heading;

Figure 7 is a, view of a hook 4used at the ends of the plait heading;

' spectively.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1, Figures 2 and 3, illustrates a strip of .suitable material, such as crinoline, which forms the base, of my plait heading. At intervals throughout the length of this strip I provide groups of stiffening ribs, as indicated by the numerals 2 in Figure 6. Each stiening rib is preferably formed by a linen cord secured to the material 1 to extend from top to bottom thereof, although the stifening rib could be otherwise forme-das by being woven into the material ofthe strip during the process of manufacture. As shown by Figure 6, the stiffening ribs 3 of each group are equi-distant from each other, and the groups 2 of stiffening ribs are equally spaced from each other.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the first six figures of the drawings, Ir provide for plaiting a curtain of heavy fabric, such as velvet, or the like, and to this end I provide means for enabling my device to be readily manipulated to form the, plaits.

This construction is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, in which the numeral 4 indicates a relatively narrow strip of material 4which is secured at its opposite edges to the material 1 to extend from end to end of the latter and substantially centrally thereof. This strip of material so secured forms a pocket 5. in which I insert, throughout the length of the pocket, sections of hair cloth, or other stiifening material 6, a section of hair cloth being positioned to extend between each two adjacent stifening ribs and two other sections of stiii'ening material extending from each end of the material 1 to the adjacent stiffening rib 3. I next secure on the strip of material 4 a length of tape 7, sai-d tape being secured along its opposite side edges from each end of the strip 1 to the adjacent stiffening rib 3. and being unattached between the stiffening ribs, providing sections, indicated bv 7a which are free, in the manipulation of the plait heading as hereinafter described, to be doubled back upon themselves to form loops 7 b. The tape 7, secured as describedpforms a pocket 8, in whichI insert a pull-tape 9, and secure one end thereof to the strip of material 1 at or near the remote end of the latter, as indicated at 10.

In applying my improved plait heading to left plain, or flat.

a curtain, it is secured to the curtain on its inner side and at its u per end, as indicated in Figure 2, and to plait the curtain the operator draws-upon the pull-tape-9. This results in drawingthe stienin ribs 3 of the various groups lof stifening ri s together, as illustrated in Figure 4, which operation causes the strips of material 1 between each two adjacent stiifening ribs to bend outward in the manner indicated at 11 in Figure 4,

which result is produced by bending the rela- -bled back upon themselves to form one, two

or three loops 7 b, according to the number of ribs employed, and these loops will then be secured together by means of a suitable gathering hook, illustrated in Figure '8, and indicated by the numeral 12. This hook is provided with a hooked end 13 which is adapted to be passed through an eyelet in a curtain ring, to support the curtain in the usual manner. In Figure 1, I have shown the appearance of the front of the curtain after the same has been plaited in the manner above described, and in Figure 2, I have shown the appearance of the rear side of the curtain and plait heading after the latter has been manipulated to plait the curtain, and after the loops 7 b of each group ofostiffening ribs have been secured together by a gathering hook 12.

The curtains are not plaited at the immediate side edges thereof, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2, so that the material of the curtain, in the space between the last plait at each side and the edge of the curtain. is A corresponding space 14, Figs. 3 and 4, is left on the plait heading, and near the ends of the strip 1` I provide two loops or eyelets 15, in vertical alignment, for the reception of a supporting hook 16, Figure 7. which has a prong, 17, for engagement in the eyelets and a hooked end, 18, for insertion in the eyelets of the rings supporting the curtain.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 1'0, in which I show the form of plait heading I employ for lightweight curtain fabrics and nets, the numeral 19 indicates a strip of material, of crinoline,vor the like, secured on which, by stitches extending along its side edges, is a length of tape, 20, which extends from end to end of strip 19. Secured on, or woven in, the strip of material 19 are a series of sti flening ribs, 21, which are vertically-disposed Vand arranged at equi-distant intervals from pieces of linen cord secured to one side of the strip 19. These sti'ening ribs extend over the tape 20, as indicated at 22, and these portions of the stiffenino' ribs are free, or unattached, and have a s i ht fullness, so as to project slightly beyond t e face of the tape 20 It will be observedthat this arrangement differs from that of the construction first described, for use with heavy curtains, in that the stiening ribs 21 are` equally spaced throughout. This enables the operator to form at will plaits of any desired character, that is, single, double or triple, by bringing together two, three or four of the loops` 22 of the stiiening ribs and insertingy a gathering hook. 23, through them, as clearly illustrated in Figure 10. As in the revious construction, eyelets 24 are provi ed at the ends of strip 19 for receiving the end hooks 16, Figure In this construction, the tape 20 merely' serves as a re-inforcing or stiiening member.

In both forms of the invention, all of the material entering in to the plait heading is formed of washable material, or material that may be cleaned by the process employed in cleaning the curtain, so that after the curtain has been cleaned it may be readily replaited and hung.

I claim:

1. A plait heading comprising a strip of material adapted to be secured at the top of a curtain to extend from side to side thereof and provided throughout a portion of its length with equally-spaced, vertically-disposed sti'ening ribs, each of said ribs having an unattached portion intermediate its ends, said unattached portions being in alignment and forming loops for engagement by a gathering'hook.

2. A plait heading comprising a strip of material adapted to be secured at the top of a curtain to extend from side to side thereof` a length of tape secured at its edges to said strip and extending from end to end thereof and a series of equally-spaced. ,verticallydisposed stiffening ribs mounted on said strip, each of which has unattached portions extending from side to side of said tape to proide loops for engagement by a gathering hoo 3. A plait heading comprising a strip of reinforced material adapted to be secured at the top of a curtain to extend from side to side thereof and provided throughout a portion of its length -with equally-spaced. vertically-disposed stiening ribs, each of said ribs having an unattached portion intermediate its ends, said unattached portions bled loops.'

being in alignmentand forming loops for engagement by a gathering hoo 4. A lait headin comprising a stripof materia adapted to e secured at the top of a curtain to extend from side to side thereof, a length of tape secured at its edges on one side of-said strip of material to extend throughout the length thereof and forming a pocket, a series ot' grou s of equally-spaced, vertically-disposed sti ening ribs provided throughout a portion of the length of said strip, each of said ribs having an unattached portion extending over said tape and providing a loop, and a pull-tape inserted in said pocket and secured at one end to one end of said strip. ,of material.

5. A plait heading comprising a strip of material secured at the top of a curtain to extend from side to side thereof and provided throughout a portion of its length with eqially-spaced, vertically disposed stifening ri s, each of said ribs having an unattached portion intermediate its ends, said unattached portion being in alignment and forming loops, a desiredrnumber of said loops being 9 brought together to cause the portions of the curtain and strip between said ribs to be doubled back upon themselves to form plaits, and a gathering hook secured in said assem- 6. A plait heading comprising a strip of material adapted to be secured at the top of a curtain to extend from side to side thereof and provided throughout a portion of its length lwith groups of equally-spaced. vertically-disposed stiifening ribs, each of said ribs having an unattached portion intermediate its ends, said unattached portions be'- ingin alignment and forming loops, means for drawing lone end of said strip toward the otherto cause said stiffening ribs to be brought together and thereby bend the mai terial between the strips into the form of plaits, and a gathering hook engaging the assembled loops of the ribs forming each series of plaits. i

7. A plait heading comprising a strip of material adapted to be secured at the top of a curtain to extend from side to side thereof and provided throughout its length with a 'number of groups of stifening ribs, equallyspaced and vertically-disposed` a length of los Atape secured at its edges to said strip of .ma-

ing on said pull-tape.`

v8. A plait headmg comprising a strip of l material adapted to be secured at the top of a curtain to extend from side-te-side thereof and provided throughout its length with a series of groups of stifening ribs, equallyspaced and vertically-disposed, each of said ribs having an unattached portion intermediate its ends, said unattached portions being in alignment, a length of tape extending from end to end of said strip of material and being secured thereto at its opposite sides at the points of intersection of said tape with said stiii'ening ribs, said tape forming a continuousy pocket and providing unattached portions between each two adjacent stiffening ribs, a pull-tape inserted in said pocket and secured at one end to an end of said strip of material, whereby upon pulling onsaid pull-tape the sti'ening ribs of the various groups will be brought together to cause the interposed material to be doubled back upon itself to form plaits at one side of the strip of material. and the interposed tape to be doubled back upon itself to form loops on the other side. anda gathering hook applied to the loops of each group of stiiiening ribs to maintain the plaited condition ofthe curtain.

9. A plait heading comprising a strip of material adapted to be secured at the top of a curtain to extend from side to side thereof, a narrower strip of material secured at its edges to said first named strip to extend from end to end thereof and forming apocket, pieces of iiexible stiflening material inserted in said pocket in endwise relation and extending throughout the length of said strip, a length of tape extending along said second strip of material and forming a. pocket, a pull-tape inserted in said pocket and secured at one end to an end of said strip of material. a series of groups of vertically-disposed. equally spaced stiffening cords secured to said strip of material at intervals throughout its length, each 'of said cords having an unattached portion extending over said tape, and said tape being secured in position at vits opposite side edges at the points of intersection with said stifl'ening cords, to leave an unattached portion of tape between each material adapted to be secured at the top of the curtain to extend from side to side thereof andprovided throughout a portion of its Y length with equally-spaced, vertically-disposedstiiening ribs, and means for holding a series of grou s of said sti'ening ribs to-v gether, at equal y spaced intervals throughout the width of the curtain whereby the material of the curtain between the ribs in each my hand.

ERNEST J. MARTENS. 

